The Parish Council is receiving an increasing number of complaints from residents concerning obtrusive outdoor lighting installed on neighbouring properties. Complainants draw attention to the negative impact of such lights, including disturbed sleep patterns, reduced privacy, and impairment of the opportunity to simply enjoy the night sky. They remind the Council regularly that Bardsey is by majority preference and policy a dark village.
The dark village policy was formulated before the advent of today’s very affordable super bright LED external lights, so at the time primarily concerned street lighting. It is privately installed lighting which is now becoming increasingly obtrusive however, giving rise to complaint, and becoming more and more problematic.
The Parish Council accepts that LED security and external lights can be an effective aid to both security and safety, especially during the dark winter months. Residents are asked to be mindful of the majority wish, however, and to exercise consideration when installing and using them.
For example, lighting should be sited so as not to directly illuminate a neighbour’s bedroom windows or garden, and should not be permanently on. When not specifically required they should be switched off. Ideally, they should be of the type controlled by PIR sensors and timers to provide automatic temporary illumination only when needed.
Best of all please talk to neighbours before installing such lighting, and aim to agree a mutually acceptable plan.
Thank you for your consideration.
Bardsey Parish Council